Cops, KSRTC staff fight over lookalike uniform

KOZHIKODE: The police and KSRTC crossed swords over the uniform of the security staff of the KSRTC bus terminal, here as assistant commissioner north E.P. Pridhvi Raj issued a notice to the KSRTC zonal office to ensure that the lookalike khaki uniform should be changed as soon as possible.

The notice, received at the zonal office the other day triggered a row as the KSRTC officials questioned the veracity of the directive.

KSRTC officials told this newspaper that the khaki uniform of the security staff is not at all decided by the regional office here, but it is a state-level issue. It is not a new affair and our security staff have been using the same for many years, the officials said.

The order issued by KSRTC in May 26, 2015 revising the dress code says that security official from assistant sergeant and above should wear khaki dress with steel stars, name plate, brown belt, brown shoe, black whistle code, khaki pea cap with KSRTC emblem on it.  

However, the police is very serious about the issue as the security staff of KSRTC looks better in the uniform than them.

KSRTC zonal officer A. Safarullah told this newspaper that he is already in touch with the higher officials and a reply would be given to the assistant commissioner.

“I am waiting for the legal opinion from headquarters,” he added.

However, North assistant commissioner E.P. Prithviraj said that it was against the Kerala Police Act, to wear any uniform that resembles the police uniform and thereby creating confusion among the public.

“I issued the notice two days back to change it with immediate effect and the officials from the KSRTC said that they were waiting for permission from the headquarters,” he said.